The Cost of a Website in Malaysia (2025 Guide) 

The 3 Hidden Costs Most People Miss 💰

Time ⌛

Building your own site with Wix or WordPress might seem cheap — until you realize how long it takes to:

• Choose and configure a theme

• Set up proper navigation and UX

• Customize design elements

• Write and format copy

• Optimize for mobile and SEO

Opportunity cost is real: is spending 60+ hours fiddling with a DIY site the best use of your time? Not to mention, Malaysian business owners usually wear many hats already—no time to waste lah.

Maintenance 🚧

Even after your site goes live, it needs:

• Regular backups

• Plugin/theme updates

• Uptime monitoring

• Security patches

If you’re not handling this yourself, expect to pay RM200–RM800/month for ongoing maintenance and updates.

Conversion Optimization 📈

A site that looks good isn’t necessarily working for your business. A high-converting website is:

• Structured for fast navigation

• Clear in messaging

• Designed to drive actions (book a call, buy, sign up)

This level of thought and strategy rarely comes with cheap template builds.

Cost Breakdown by Approach

DIY Website Builders (Wix, Squarespace, Shopify)

• Ideal for: Solopreneurs, side hustles, early-stage testing

• Cost: RM0 to RM2,000/year (plus domain RM60+/year)

• Trade-offs: Limited customization, basic feel, time-consuming

Best if you want to get something live fast, and don’t mind doing the work yourself.

Freelancers or Small Studios Using Templates

• Ideal for: SMEs, local service providers, new startups

• Cost: RM3,000 to RM15,000

• What’s included:

  • Setup of WordPress/Webflow

  • Basic design customization

  • Starter SEO and mobile optimization

Good value for money if you want something professional without going all-in.

Custom Design & Development

• Ideal for: Brands that want to stand out, convert better, and scale

• Cost: RM15,000 to RM80,000+

• Includes:

  • UX/UI strategy and planning

  • Tailor-made design

  • Custom frontend/backend work

  • Performance, SEO, security setup

You get what you pay for — this is not just design, it's business strategy in pixels.

Web Apps, SaaS Platforms, and Complex Builds

• Ideal for: Startups, platforms, marketplaces

• Cost: RM30,000 to RM150,000+

• Factors influencing cost:

  • Features, dashboards, integrations

  • Payment systems, user accounts

  • Hosting, scalability, API logic

Make sure your dev team understands local needs like FPX, DuitNow, and Bahasa/English dual-language setups.

What Affects the Price (Besides Scope)

Platform choice:

• WordPress is affordable but can get bloated if not maintained well

• Webflow is modern and clean, but pricing is in USD (so kena forex)

• Shopify is great for e-commerce, but takes monthly fees + transaction cut

Team type:

• Freelancer = lower cost, limited capacity

• Local boutique studio = balance of skill, personal touch, and budget

• Big agency = atas price, long lead time, more red tape

Local Considerations:

• Some freelancers outsource without telling you — always check who’s really doing the work

• Cheap deals on Mudah.my or FB groups can backfire: ghosting, low quality, or zero support after launch

SEO, Hosting, and Other Add-Ons

Even a gorgeous site is useless if nobody finds it. Here’s what else to budget for:

• SEO Setup: RM1,000 to RM6,000 depending on depth (keyword research, on-page SEO, content structure)

• Hosting: RM30/month (shared) to RM250+/month (managed/cloud hosting)

• Copywriting: RM800 to RM5,000 — proper content converts, period

• Branding: Logos, colour palette, typography system — RM1,500 to RM10,000

The Smart Way to Approach Budgeting

Instead of asking, “How much does a website cost?” better to ask:

• What is the job this website needs to do?

• What is the ROI you expect (in leads, brand trust, or e-commerce sales)?

• What’s your timeline and who will maintain it after?

A RM10k site that brings in 5 clients/month is better than a RM3k site that sits there doing nothing, kan?

Final Thoughts: Price is One Thing, Fit is Everything

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer to web design pricing in Malaysia. But with the right expectations, you can avoid overpaying — or under-investing.

If you're not sure what kind of site fits your goals (or your pocket), I offer a no-pressure, 20-minute chat to point you in the right direction. No hard sell. Just honest advice, macam kawan je.

Let’s talk about your website goals.

Want a website that works hard for your business? I help Malaysian brands and startups build sites that convert visitors into customers. 

Reach out here to get started: [email protected]